NEW BERN, N.C. (Jan. 20, 2012) — Chris Kent has joined the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission as the hunter education specialist for a southeastern region. His duties include providing instruction in hunter ethics and responsibility, wildlife management and conservation, firearms, wildlife identification, survival and first aid, specialty hunting and tree stand safety.

Kent will serve in the Wildlife Commission’s District 2, which is made up of Pitt, Beaufort, Greene, Lenoir, Duplin, Pender, New Hanover, Onslow, Jones, Carteret, Pamlico and Craven counties.

“I want to reach out to a broader audience in the community to get them involved in the outdoors,” Kent said. “I would like to see more people — folks from all backgrounds — being a part of hunting. Everyone should practice hunting safety.”

Kent, from Danville, Va., and now living in New Bern, enjoys family activities, backpacking, wildlife photography, fishing and any winter activities that involve snow.

“I will get involved with schools as much as possible,” he said. “And I will try to offer as many advanced hunter education courses as I can.”

“Hunting is one of the safest and most widely enjoyed activities in North Carolina,” said Travis Casper, the state hunting education coordinator. “Hunters are the backbone of conservation and we want to encourage future generations. We’re glad to have Chris Kent leading our efforts in District 2.”

For more information on local hunter education courses or the Home From The Hunt safety campaign offered by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, contact Kent at 252-521-5190 or e-mail christopher.kent@ncwildlife.org.